Welder prop from the Aliens movie, built using 3D printed parts and a sparkler
The Aiens USCM ME3 Welder is a physical gameplay prop inspired by the welding tool seen in Aliens, most notably during the barricade scene where the Colonial Marines seal themselves in from the approaching Xenomorphs. Rather than building a static replica, the goal was to turn the idea of “welding” into a real, functional game mechanic for a live airsoft environment.
The welder was created for Gunman Airsoft’s Aliens Halloween Special and formed a hard-gated core objective within the scenario. Players were tasked with locating Alien eggs hidden inside shipping containers, then sealing those containers shut before the eggs could hatch. Progress was impossible without a Colonial Marine physically welding the doors closed using the ME3 Welder.
The key design challenge was creating a convincing welding effect that was safe, portable, and usable in the field. The solution was deceptively simple: a modified ME3 nozzle holding a standard firework sparkler, acting as a consumable welding rod. When ignited, the sparkler produced a highly convincing shower of sparks, creating a visible one-minute countdown while other players defended the welder.
Operated exclusively by staff for safety, the prop delivered genuine tension, spectacle, and time pressure. At a distance it read as real welding, while up close it remained a robust, lightweight 3D printed prop. The result was a practical special-effects system disguised as a movie prop, turning fiction into a physical game mechanic.
